Months of laying low has made many of us beyond ready for a vacation.
But is it even safe to stay in a hotel?
Here’s what experts want you to know.
But like most things, visiting a hotel isnt what it used to be.
Is it even safe to stay in a hotel?
A good establishment is going to be able to answer that question, says Dr. Plescia.
infectious disease epidemiologist and public health professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
If you really have to prod and ask a bunch of questionsWell, are you doing this?
Are you doing that?that would be a red flag.
Some hotels are allowing 24 to 48 hours between stays, giving rooms time to air out.
If you order room service, have them leave it outside of your door.
Additionally, choose to forego room cleaning during your stay.
Theyre going to change the linen between guests, so thats not a problem right there, he says.
Theyre cleaning the rooms and handling those things appropriately.
And even if theyre not, those are minor modes of transmission compared to being around other people.
To err on the side of safety, Dr. Plescia recommends bringing your own pillow and pillowcase.
But if you cant do that, its probably fine.
A reputable hotel is going to have laundered the pillowcases as well.
Maybe pack an extra suitcase with your pillows in it, if you might.
The units generally recirculate air within your room, they dont drag it from room to room.
Ventilation systems can blow the virus around, he says.
Thats really the concern[the virus] isnt likely to come into your room through the vents.
Even during normal times, Dr. Labus says you dont spend much time interacting with other guests.
If youre traveling somewhere on an airplane, the journey can often be a lot riskier, he says.
If youre driving cross country, that doesnt apply.
But if youre flying somewhere, its a challenging situation to navigate.
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